Scurfield Park: An Invitation to Support Winnipeg’s Iranian Community by Planting Trees

Please join us as we plant trees on a beautiful fall day.

Date: Saturday, October 1, 2022
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Locaion: Scurfield Park: Use pathway entrance between Hillberry Bay and Prospect Road
Whyte Ridge Neighbourhood
Vehicle parking on Columbia Drive & close to bus stops

Inquiries: Please contact Arian – my friend & colleague: aarianpour@winnipeg.ca

For months, I and the Iranian community have been planning a beautiful fall tree planting in Scurfield Park, in the neighbourhood of WhyteRidge. The tree planting is part of a larger grove of trees being planted to honour the memory of the lives lost in the downing of flight PS752 just two years ago.

The grove of trees, a seating area and plaza overlook a pond of water in a peaceful corner of Scurfield Park. But in light of recent events, the tree planting is taking on even more meaning. We simply could not have imagined what has been unfolding over the last 10+ days in Iran. Yet again, more horrific acts of brutality are being committed against the women of Iran, the people of Iran – by the ruling regime.

Twenty two year old #Mahsaamini was killed by the ‘morality police’ for her hair being exposed. Just utter insanity.
For the past 40 years, the oppressive regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been trying to destroy the soul of one of the world’s most ancient civilizations. They are not succeeding, and the people of Iran are rising up – but lives are being lost.

We are proceeding with our peaceful tree planting this Saturday, and you are welcome to join us.
We will be celebrating nature, we will be honouring the Winnipeggers’ lives lost, and all lives lost on Flight PS752, and we will be showing support for the strong women and people of Iran who are standing up against the Iranian dictatorship.

The tree planting event will be bittersweet, but, like trees – it will also hold great hope for a new beginning.
We will embrace the sorrow, sadness and heartbreak being felt by Winnipeg’s Iranian community, we will show our support, and we will look to the future where all can live with equality, freedom, peace and dignity – as we have here in Canada.